One of my closest friends is getting married and has told us bridesmaids that we can wear whatever color shoe we’d like since our dresses (at right) are floor length.

Now this is a terrible thing to do to a person as indecisive as I am (I kid, Aimee!). Making the decision even more difficult is the fact that our gorgeous gowns are navy and will go with pretty much any color our little hearts desire. I thought it would take forever to decide on a color.

But my equally indecisive buddy (and one of my fellow bridesmaids) and I shockingly came to a color conclusion pretty quickly. Since Aimee (the bride) has chosen orangey flowers, we decided we want to play off of that.

Both of us like a bold-colored shoe–especially at a wedding!–but this is an extra bold move. I don’t think I own anything that’s orange!

The one thing that has been holding me back is whether or not I would actually wear these shoes again. How many chances is a girl going to have to wear a citrusy shoe when she’s more of a water and jewel tone kind of person?

After hunting around a little, I think there actually may be a lot of opportunities. Check out the outfits I came up with:

Brunch

A brunch-y look is probably closest to what I would wear on a normal day. Since I’m not too keen on big doses of orange (I think it totally washes me out), I found basic pieces in neutral colors. This allows the orange to work as a bright little pop of sunshine.

(BTW if you’re loving that striped dress and the whole nautical thing that’s going on in fashion right now, check back tomorrow for a nautical fashion post!)

Work

I thought the work look would be the hardest one to incorporate orange shoes into. It just doesn’t seem like a particularly professional color. But this was surprisingly easy! Just find a patterned blouse that the shoes can play off of and pair them with some great neutrals (a swoon-worthy Marc Jacobs bag always helps) and you’re totally set!

Ladies Night

This is the look that you can have the most fun with. Think bold patterns and bright color combos (the look I’m showing here is a totally subdued one). There are tons of possibilities, especially during summer when bright colors are everywhere. I’m currently loving the tropical combo of orange and hot pink, which would be great for a night out on the town!

For better or for worse, I think just about everyone knows what it’s like to be dancing on the cusp of your breaking point. Whether it’s a big deal or a small one, it’s not exactly a party, is it?

Lately I find myself dangerously close to a breaking point of my own.

As someone who loathes confrontation (I’m all about peace and love!), I’ve been trying to push it aside or brush it off. But as that delightful old adage goes, it seems to be time to shit or get off the pot.

Since I try to avoid confrontation at all costs, I generally let irritation after irritation go without doing or saying anything to soothe it. I take a “let nature take its course” sort of approach. But like grains of sand working on a rock, what start out as small nuisances slowly morph into something of consequence.

What do you do when you feel yourself nearing a breaking point?

Right now, I feel like all I can do is gather my strength and prepare for battle. You’ll know I’m truly at the edge when I start dressing like a Dothrakian (see photo above) from HBO’s new series Game of Thrones (have you seen it yet? It’s awesome).

Maybe that’s why I find myself so drawn to these amazing pieces that have a bohemian, sort of tribal, almost warrior-like feel to them…

As if the gloominess and bad hair that all this rain is bringing isn’t bad enough, it’s also making me increasingly lazy. I mean, really. Who wants to leave the house when it means getting soaked? Especially when it means wrapping up a newborn and trying to keep her warm and dry while your almost five-year old jumps in every puddle in sight.

But I said I was trying to find the positive in everything, right?

If the rain is going to prevent me from walking off my baby weight in the park, I’ll just have to scrape my ass off the couch and find something fabulous to do inside.

This afternoon I’m thinking yoga. Aside from being awesome in it’s own right, it’s something my daughter can actually do with me (her favorite is the tree pose and she can do it better than most adults). So while I stretch and tone my core, I can be sure she’s not off somewhere getting into trouble. Instead, she’ll be next to me giggling at my form.

It’s been raining for days here in New York and it’s not looking like it will let up anytime soon (at least it’s not snow, right?). Day after damp and soggy day of this stuff can be detrimental to anyone’s mood. Add a bad hair week and icky commutes on top of that and we ladies are one drive-by splash away from a meltdown.

So what’s a girl to do?

How about we tackle the bad hair situation with some super pretty pieces that are sure to make you feel great–rain or shine?

Instead of just throwing your hair into a ponytail and forgetting about it, add an extra touch as a little pick me up of sorts. Whether it’s a ponytail holder with personality (like #6) or cheery bobby pins (#2), something simple can inject a little life into an otherwise dreary day.

I’m currently partial to messy ponies or buns with an attention-grabbing headband. It’s that laid-back, bedhead kind of look with a fun twist. Quick and easy to do, it still manages to make it look as if you put in a little extra effort–all while wrangling your crazy frizz or unmanageable curls. Similar to headbands, turbans (#5) are a trend that I’ve been really unsure of, but I’m willing to try it out styled the way it is shown above.

Another really easy but really cute way to combat your bad hair is with a hat. I love it with loose waves or a messy braid like the looks shown here.

The easiest way to fight a bad hair day is to work with your hair instead of against it. Don’t try to tame your mess! Leave it wild and add a cute accessory. You’ll be much happier in the end!

I love smoothies. I could drink them for breakfast, lunch and dinner and never get sick of their refreshing yumminess.

It doesn’t matter what time of year it is. There’s just nothing quite like starting off your day with one. During the summer they cool you down. During the winter they allow you to feel like you’re sitting poolside (even if it’s just for a second!).

I’m particularly fond of homemade smoothies, since you know exactly what’s going into them (and since I have no desire to ask the guy at the smoothie stand in the mall for an Orgasm).

My go-to is strawberry coconut. I throw some frozen strawberries and coconut milk into the blender (sometimes I add a little Greek yogurt) and I’m good to go without thinking very much.

As much as I love my signature combo, sometimes a girl needs a little change. Real Simple recently had an awesome smoothie feature. I’m not gonna lie, I totally squealed when I saw it.

From run-of-the-mill mango to a spinach, grape and coconut concoction, these recipes most certainly piqued my interest.

I think I’ll try this one next:

Raspberry and Nut Smoothie

Ingredients:

3/4 cup low-fat milk

3/4 cup frozen raspberries

1/2 banana

1 tablespoon natural almond or peanut butter

1 tablespoon agave nectar or honey

Directions:

Place the milk, raspberries, banana, almond butter, and agave nectar in a blender.

about the momma

Hi! I'm Jen, a freelance writer and girl mom who loves reading the newest children’s books as much as I love a good psychological thriller. I believe fiercely in the power of kindness, empathy, and really good quality chocolate. When I'm not knee-deep in glittery crafts and girl talk, you can probably find me sprawled out on my couch in the middle of a Netflix marathon with dark chocolate smeared on my face. The struggle is real. Learn more about me here.

let’s connect!

Subscribe!

Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address

a printable list of books your family is guaranteed to love

book store

listen to the podcast!

Pssssst…

Cuddles & Chaos is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. I receive a tiny commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.

Error: Access Token is not valid or has expired. Feed will not update. This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

There's an issue with the Instagram Access Token that you are using. Please obtain a new Access Token on the plugin's Settings page.If you continue to have an issue with your Access Token then please see this FAQ for more information.